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Sunday, May 31, 2009

Last fall we couldn't get enough of purple, especially on our nails. We were hooked on "Don't Go There" which is one of the Sephora by OPI colors. It's no wonder then, that this spring our interest has turned to fuchsia. It's brighter but in the same family as purple, but not a red or pink. Our favorite shade and one that we've used on the past couple of manis is "Flashbulb Fuchsia" in The Brights Collection by OPI. We're planning on sporting it on our beach trip this weekend at least on our fingers, our toes are getting gold polish.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Ever since our friend Paul over at Daily Makeover told us about Is This Your Luggage, we've become obsessed with the site. Photographer Luna Laboo buys luggage that is lost and never claimed. She then photographs the luggage with all its contents in tact in the hopes of finding the rightful owner.

While she has yet to reunite a bag with its owner, it is ridiculously fun to look at the contents of the lost luggage and wonder about the person who packed a particular bag. For instance, why did this guy need eight pairs of blue jeans? And what is that red outfit? It reminds us of the uniform Zach Braff had to wear in Garden State at the pseudo Indian restaurant he worked at in L.A.

Ever lost a bag? Check out Is This Your Luggage and maybe you'll see it again--along with the rest of the world!

By the time you read this, we'll be on our way to Grand Cayman. Planning this girls' trip was more challenging than most--after Hope finally convinced Annie that Mexico was a better idea than L.A. for the trip, up came the swine flu. We debated for a few weeks in early May about if we should reschedule our trip to Cancun. The decision not to go was ultimately made for us when Hope's flight was canceled.

After a bit of back and forth (Miami! Turks and Caicos! L.A.!) and research into destinations we could fly to easily and relatively inexpensively when booking tickets two weeks out, we decided on Grand Cayman. It's reasonably easy to get to--our flight left at 8:30 this morning from NYC and after a stop in Charlotte, we land at 1 CST in Grand Cayman--with any luck we'll be checked in and in our bikinis in time to catch the late afternoon rays. Had we booked our tickets further in advance, we would have been able to score seats on Cayman Airways, which has non-stops from NYC.Our next consideration was where to stay. Since we were booked at the Ritz Carlton in Cancun, our first choice was obviously the Ritz Carlton in Grand Cayman. We know the service will be impeccable, its restaurant is by Eric Ripert and the spa is La Prairie.

Beyond that, about all we have planned is working on our killer tans and drinking banana daiquiris. We won't be posting on our trip while on the road, but check back later next week for photos and a full report!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

The highlight of our Memorial Day Staycation was meeting our friends Amber, Dina and Felicia at The Met for The Model as Muse Exhibit. We drooled over the Balenciaga gowns, laughed at the 60's dress with cut out for your boobies and were nostalgic for our favorite semi-retired models, including Shalom Harlow and Alek Welk. If you can make it to the Met before August 9, we say do it! The café is worth a visit too--just get the lemon blueberry tart, not the profiteroles!

If you can't make it, the video is just like the real thing, minus the crowd!

Don’t let the recession fool you into thinking you can’t still get away with your girls without breaking the bank. The Sagamore Hotel in Miami is offering a very affordable vacation package called the Girls’ Night Out. For a minimum of two nights, you and three other girls will enjoy a Sagamore Suite, continental breakfast, morning-after Mimosas or Bloody Marys poolside, a manicure at the Rikrak Beauty Bungalow, and VIP entrance and a complimentary cocktail at Aero Bar. All of this for the low rate of $69 per person per night during the week and $99 per person per night during the weekend.

The promotion is from June 1, 2009 through October 15, 2009, but you must book by June 30th! This is a great idea for anyone planning a birthday or bachelorette party on a limited group budget. Plus, if you go in September or October, you can maintain your summer glow!

La Mer and Oceana have teamed up to celebrate World Oceans Day 2009 on June 8th to recognize the importance of the ocean in the viability of our ecosystem. Oceana exists to support environmental and research efforts regarding the sea. La Mer is offering a special edition World Oceans Day Creme available at Saks Fifth Avenue and on the La Mer site through June of which 100% of the net proceeds go to Oceana.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

The hardest outfit to plan for a trip isn't what to wear at the beach or even for a night out--it's what to wear on the plane. You want to look stylish, but comfort is the name of the game. We're thinking about wearing something similar to Beyoncé's outfit above, on our flight to Grand Cayman on Friday. We love how she tops off her cool, casual white outfit with an oversized cardi and wedges.

We just received word that Stila released their “Indian Summer” line and trust us, it looks beautiful! Check it out on their website. It consists of a smudge pot, lip gloss, color palette for the eyes, powder bronzer, tinted moisturizer, mascara, lip glosses and blush. The collection has a golden base to it, so it will bring out your natural summertime complexion. It looks exotic and sexy yet minimal. They boast that this collection will make you look youthful and add a glisten to your skin. Oh, and did we mention that it is infused with 24k gold…You will look like a million bucks, literally!

It seems like this collection is flying off the shelf, so we recommend grabbing it before everyone else does. We can’t wait to try it out for both the day and the night.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

While we appreciate an excuse to eat M&M's and Aunt Anne's pretzels, we're always on the lookout for healthy snacks for the plane. Spa Week filled us in on these grown up lunchables. They do need to be refrigerated, but if you dive in right after takeoff, you're most likely on the safe side. We could go for a Manhattan one right now!

Burnt, dyed, teased, chopped, shredded, and dried out – you name it, we’ve done it. No, we’re not reliving last night’s dinner, that’s our hair we’re talking about. We are always searching for a product to rejuvenate our lovely locks, to give it that extra something it had before we started tampering with our natural texture and color. During the summer our hair becomes even drier from the sun, chlorine, and saltwater, which is why we couldn’t ask for a better time for Aveeno to launch their Nourish Collection.

If any of our readers live in Boston, Minneapolis or Seattle, Aveeno is offering free wash and blow-outs, tips, and product samples to over 100 women in each city (first come, first serve) next Wednesday, May 27th from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm (5:00 pm in Boston). Boston is at the James Joseph Salon, Minneapolis is at Level and Seattle is at Haven.

A few weeks ago, we filled you in on our upcoming girls' getaway to Asheville with our mom for Mother's Day. Asheville was everything we were hoping it would be and more. It was artsy, which we expected, with sophisticated galleries on just about every block. What surprised us was the live music scene--we had just missed Blue October--and the cultural--the local playhouse was putting on "Baby with the Bathwater", written by one of our all time fave playwrights, the eternally hysterical Christoper Durang. The downtown area is walkable and filled with art deco buildings. We stayed at the newly opened Grand Bohemian Asheville, which provided a comfortable base from which to explore the town and the nearby Biltmore house and grounds. As they say, a picture is worth 1,000 words, so check out our slideshow for all the fun we had:

In the June issue of W, Ginnifer Goodwin shares how she punked her friends on her 30th birthday last year. She had them all thinking she had sold out, a la Vincent Chase on Entourage, and was having a Vegas blowout sponsored by a celebrity weekly and a liquor company and everything. In reality, she kidnapped her five girlfriends and took them to a bed a breakfast where "we did mud baths, learned how to make perfume and lazed by the pool and drank way too much wine." Way to go Ginnifer!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

While you're out shopping the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale this weekend, be sure to stop by the Clinique counter to pick up the adorable Trina Turk designed bonus filled with summer essentials.

Trina says: "I've created a vibrant, floral cosmetic bag and paired it with must-have skin care and makeup essentials from Clinique in one great gift. The shades go great with just about any daytime outfit and together it makes the perfect summer-time accessory."

Included in the Clinique bonus--a $65 value that is yours with any purchase of $25 or more:

Trina Turk designed cosmetic bag

Lash Doubling Mascara in black

Different lipstick in Tenerheart

Blushwear cream stick in Rosy blush

Superfit Makeup (your choice of 3 shades)

Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Starburst

Take the Day Off Makeup Remover

Not sure what to get? Our pick would be our new favorite sunscreen. Available until June 6 or when supplies run out.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

We love that Louis Vuitton is more than just about the clothes--Louis Vuitton is a lifestyle and an aesthetic. Those who are traveling to Hong Kong this summer should definitely stop by the Hong Kong Museum of Art to check out the exhibit "Louis Vuitton: A Passion for Creation." While the exhibit runs until August 9, you don't even have to step inside to get a feel for it. The museum is wrapped in prints from artist Richard Prince's "After Dark" series, shown above and below.

But, of course, we love the clothes, too. JSG was honored to be invited to preview a small selection of the Louis Vuitton fall '09 line, along with a select group of bloggers as part of Louis Vuitton's outreach to social media. Some of our favorite pieces are below:

We've now tried Glowelle on two separate occasions and our reaction was the same each time: We saw zero results. Save your funds fellow JSGers!

Glowelle claims to be a "Beauty drink dietary supplement that helps fight the signs of aging from within." It contains high levels of vitamins A, C and E along with goji berry and green and white tea extract. You mix it in 16 oz. of water and drink up. Besides not seeing any results, the stuff tastes pretty terrible. While we're fans of pomegranates and lychees in real life, the pomegranate-lychee mix was near undrinkable. We had to keep adding water and still basically shot it like it was tequila. We had the best results when we put it in a water bottle and shook it for a minute. Even still, the powder still go clumpy, so we wasted some of it.

The packaging is silly. With the week's supply, you get 7 individually wrapped packages of the powder, along with a "limited edition beauty clutch". The clutch is a small zip up pouch that you're supposed to carry your Glowelle around in. It has since become our tampon case. A smarter inclusion would be a shaker so you can mix the stuff without having to buy a bottle of Poland Spring.

So, save your $40! The only supplement we've ever taken that gave our skin a noticeable difference is Omega-3 pills. They seriously do make our hair grow faster and our nails grow stronger. You can find them at your local health food store for a fraction of the cost of Glowelle. Plus they help your heart, too!

Friday, May 22, 2009

At Old Navy this Saturday, May 23rd only, stock up on your favorite colors of adults' and children's solid color flip flops for $1/pair. Sorry, there's a limit of 6 pairs per person. Happy shopping and flopping!

For those of us who are single, it is sometimes difficult to go on vacation or wander the streets of a foreign city watching couples walking affectionately hand in hand. However, our single prayers have been answered! Air New Zealand has created a flight called the Matchmaking Flight – exactly what it sounds like!

It’s an easy concept; you sign up and pick who you want; an American, a kiwi, or a Canadian. You are paired with a partner either on the flight over to New Zealand or when you land. You can create a profile of yourself on the Matchmaking Flight website to connect with the travelers six months before your trip. There is a pre-flight gate party, in-flight games and entertainment, and not to mention that you might be sitting next to your soul mate. Who wouldn’t mind rubbing elbows with a Rusell Crowe look-a-like for a long flight?

Flights leave from Los Angeles on October 13, 2009 and cost $780. All you have to do is de-plane, freshen up, and explore New Zealand with a new date! Get ready to share your peanuts…

Thursday, May 21, 2009

We just got back from Nordstroms' half yearly sale where we were doing "research" for JSG. What tempted us the most were the piles of totebags from Tory Burch, Kate Spade and more that had been marked down just in time for Memorial Day and our first beach trip of the year.

Fiji- A country composed of over 300 islands in the South Pacific that also boasts “the friendliest people in the world.” There’s something so alluring to us about the secluded beaches, clear, crystal blue water and the fact that Jacques Cousteau named Fiji “soft coral capital of the world.” Fiji is a fabulous island destination whether you and your girlfriends want some adventure or want to relax on the beach. I’m not gonna lie to you, I’ve wanted to check out Fiji since I found out that Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey went there on their honeymoon…yes, I said it. In my opinion, we can all use a little more “bula” in our lives…

Turks & Caicos – Known as the “light of the Caribbean,” this set of islands is only one hour from Miami, making it the perfect destination for a long girlfriend’s weekend. Each island has something different to offer…Parrot Cay being the most exclusive and luxurious. West Caicos, known for its fabulous diving and East Caicos, for glorious stretch of private beach. And then there’s Providenciales or “Provo,” which is the most popular island and home to many ultra luxury resorts and spas lining the 12 mile Grace Bay Beach – frequently voted one of the world’s best beaches by Conde Nast Traveler magazine. JSG's pick for best hotel for a girls' getaway is the Gansevoort in Turks & Caicos (shown above).

Riviera Maya –The award winning Asian hospitality brand Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts has made its way to Mexico with the Banyan Tree Mayakoba resort. Located on Mexico’s pristine Riviera Maya amidst the exclusive and ecologically-sensitive Mayakoba development, this exclusive all-pool villa resort is the perfect blend of nature and luxury. With 16 spa pavilions and an extensive range of Asian-inspired massages, beauty and body treatments, the spa presents a truly holistic and rejuvenating wellness experience. On top of that, every guest has their own private swimming pool set in a secluded landscaped garden. Perfect for a girlfriend-bonding weekend…all only 30 minutes from the Cancun airport. (Note: the CDC lifted its travel advisory to Mexico on May 15.)

Last week we had the Signature Stress Melter Ritual at the Red Door Spa at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in D.C. It was the total body rejuvenator as it began with a full body scrub, then a long, steamy shower, followed by a body wrap, and ended with a 50 minute massage. Afterwards, we were ready to conquer a tough work week and our skin was smooth and ready to apply the much needed self-tanner. This newly opened salon which is open 7 days a week is in a central and historic location if you're working or visiting D.C. and it was staffed with a handful of helpful, friendly and talented aesthesticians. There's a hair salon, larger rooms for group events (like bridal parties or girls getaways), a nail salon and a beautiful deck for eating spa food or sunning yourself. We'll be returning soon, next time with some friends.

Since Memorial Day is this weekend, it's time for most of us to get some color on our legs. Before you apply your self-tanner, it's important to slough off the dead skin first.If you'd like to do your own scrub at home, here are a few of our favorites.

The Body Refiner by La Mer is a luxurious blend of La Mer's sea ingredients and diamond dust. It leaves the skin super polished and glowing. The characteristic La Mer scent reminds of us the toiletries at the SoBe Ritz Carlton which isn't a bad memory to have!

Origins Incredible Spreadable Ginger Scrub uses salt and sugar to scrub and polish your skin and olive oil to moisturize. The natural ginger scent combined with a steamy shower, makes for amazing aromatherapy. This has been a favorite of ours and our friends for years. Follow it with the Ginger Body Souffle for wonderfully soft skin.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Sightsee, burn calories, help save the environment and look cool doing it? The Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in Canada now extends this complimentary – yes, complimentary service to its guests that make this possible. Travelers to the Fairmont Chatueau Whistler can explore on mountainside bike paths while guests to the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth can tool around Montreal from the seats of these sleek bikes that are unlike anything they’ve hopped on before. We’re not talking about your old banana seat bike you rode around the neighborhood. Think more along the lines of a comfortable, smooth ride in a BMW, only you’re on two wheels, not four. Don’t be nervous if it’s been a while since you last rode a bike. These are easy to use because the tires are wider than normal which helps you balance.

The Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will provide you with everything from helmets and locks to shorts, t-shirts and sneakers to mp3 players. We think that’s pretty thoughtful and can’t wait til this program spreads to the hotel’s properties in the U.S. and the Caribbean!

Fairmont Hotels arond the world are offering up to 20 percent off with their "Everyone's an Original" Summer Rate Program.

JSG is SO excited to announce that we have a new assistant editor, Ava Hoffman. Ava loves to travel with her girlfriends as much as we do: she's currently planning her sister's bachelorette party to Fire Island. She loves music, playing sports, reading, and finding new and fun things to do and see. She spent a semester abroad in Florence, Italy and traveled all throughout Europe as well as Mexico, the Caribbean and the good ol' U-S-of-A. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Go Badgers!) last year and now lives in NYC.

Ava will be writing posts, contributing a 20-something viewpoint and attending NY-based events for us.

It's that time of year again, when we're looking for a book that will absorb our attention without making our brain stretch too hard. We have a round up from our friends on Twitter and a few selects of our own.

I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloan Crosley comes to us from The Daily Lather. It's a collection of essays from a New Yorker in her mid-20s that cover the range from being a bridesmaid to vegetarianism to what her apartment looks to others like should she die unexpectedly. (To our surprise, we found out this weekend that a few of our friends do actually worry about this!)

The School of Essential Ingredients Erika Bauermeister is Ildiko J's reco. Ildiko's one of our favorite makeup artists whom we know has impeciable taste. We do/buy/try everything she tells us to. We're doubly excited about it as Amazon likens it to Chocolat and Like Water for Chocolate.

Our friend Julia suggests Queen Takes King by Gigi Levangie Grazer, author of The Starter Wife. Julia's on a level with Kate Moss in terms of cool, so we know this is what all the hip girls will be reading on the beach this summer.

And another one: Love Will Tear Us Apart: A Novel Sarah Raimone. Becuase how can you not like a novel named after a Joy Division song that reviewers call "sexy, funny and brilliant"?

Our new assistant editor, Ava Hoffman, calls Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, one of the best books she's ever read. "It's a longer read but everyone I recommended it to loved it."Our friend Paula recommends Whacked by Jules Asner (model, E! t.v. personality and wife of director Steven Soderbergh) authored her first book which is part intrigue part chick lit.And if you prefer something on the heavier side even though it's summer, try The Third Angel: A Novel by Alice Hoffman.